KATHY TOLD JESSE SHE NEEDED SOME TIME ALONE AFTER LUNCH. But he already knew what that meant, so he informed her that he would go and fetch her in fifteen minutes.
Soon she found herself in the same park, on the same bench, which had become a sort of spiritual spot for her, imagining what Mrs. Sloan would advise and how she would comfort her in view of this new obstacle. However, instead of the writer's words, what came to her head were memories of her parents on a great many occasions when she'd needed them to be there for her and they had.
"Thank you, Mrs. Sloan," she whispered. "For helping me realize what good there is in my life. You got to know me enough to be aware of my pessimism."
"So have I."
Despite the low energy that derives from feeling miserable, she was almost startled by Jesse's sudden appearance.
"Hey! You said you'd give me a quarter of an hour!" she complained, half annoyed, half relieved.
"I followed you," he admitted shameless.
"You certainly did!"
"Don't you feel like this is a kind of déjà vu thing?"
"I'd rather you had not heard my private thoughts," she said, obviating his comment. "They were uttered, but not intended to be heard."
"I figured you might need to be rescued from them."
Kathy watched him sit on the bench by her side.
"I suppose I do give that impression. And it seems to me you've assumed this task as part of Mrs. Sloan's inheritance."
Jesse's face hardened, not sure how to take that.
They kept quiet for a while.
"I'll leave if you wish me to," he said, not moving an inch. "I'm sure you know the last thing I wanted was to upset you."
"Please, tell me. Are you being kind to me out of a sense of duty?"
"I believe we already covered that a week ago."
"Not quite."
She stood up; her own question and the range of possible answers making her feel rather awkward.
Jesse looked straight into her eyes.
"No, I am not." He kept looking up into her greenish irises. "And should you wish to hear the expanded version of this answer, I've no objection."
David came instantly into her mind. The way he'd been toying with her for months - although he'd never admit it - before he'd finally asked her out. Jesse, on the other hand, was almost begging leave to avoid beating about the bush. Would she like him to speak frankly? She shared a great responsibility with this man and now some problems - big problems - ahead. So, for better or for worse, things had to be out on the open.